Issue 269 - 4th December 2014

Hello, and welcome to issue 269 of CHEX-Point Snippets. As always, this issue contains all the latest news and information relating to community-led health. If you have any news or updates from your own work locally that you would like mentioned in Snippets please get in touch. Click here if you would like to view this e-bulletin online or read any previous issues of Snippets.

The next issue will be published on Thursday 8th January 2015. Please send anything you would like to be included before Tuesday 6th January.

You can send information/material for inclusion in CHEX-Point Snippets by sending an email to sam.jordan@scdc.org.uk or phone CHEX on 0141 248 1990. You can also tweet @SCDC_Sam. CHEX-Point Snippets is provided by CHEX – Community Health Exchange and this edition was compiled by Sam Jordan. Thanks to all contributors to this edition.

Cheers,
Sam Jordan
Information and Communications Officer, SCDC

Contents

(N.B. click on the heading links below to jump immediately to the relevant section)

CHEX News

CHEX Network member Healthy Valleys has produced a video for their Grassroots Project, which offers free support to pregnant women and families with children under 5 in rural South Lanarkshire.

Focused on improving the health and wellbeing of parents and children, the project supports women and families in a range of ways: from making sure pregnant women get to all their essential ante-natal health care appointments, to encouraging and enabling families to eat healthier, exercise more and meeting other families.

The video highlights some of the volunteers, workers and people who are involved in the project, highlighting the importance of the service due to the highly rural nature of South Lanarkshire.

It's a great video and really shows how the project benefits parents and children. View it here.

Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival held in The Filmhouse Edinburgh
The highly commended entry, Sitar Rose’s Tell Tale Signs, is another film remarkable for its honesty and courage in depicting a difficult subject. Working in collaboration with CHEX Network member Safe Space and Edinburgh University.

It explores childhood sexual abuse and the challenges faced by victims when disclosing it to partners and professionals. In the documentary, the participants give first-hand accounts of their experiences, inspiring others to try and move on from what has happened.

In her speech, Rose credited the award to the participants in the film, many of whom joined her on stage to accept it. “Talking about the past [makes it] present again,” she said. It was “very courageous” to take part in the documentary and to take the stage on the night.

General Information

Smith Commission
Following the Smith Commission report, SCVO has outlined the responses and rated them against its recommendations, saying that the proposed powers are a "piecemeal package of powers that doesn't go far enough to fully tackle poverty & inequality".

The BBC has also outlined quotes from political and charity leaders here.

Substance misuse at lowest levels
Smoking, alcohol and drug use among young people are at the lowest levels ever recorded, according to new figures published today.

The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle And Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) 2013 report provides trends on substance use and lifestyle issues among Scotland’s young people.

The report, published by ISD Scotland, found that the proportion of 15 year olds who drank alcohol in the last week fell from 34 per cent in 2010 to 19 per cent in 2013 and for 13 year olds dropped from 14 per cent in 2010 to 4 per cent in 2013.

Welfare reform and the third sector report
SCVO's report published today looks at the cumulative impact of welfare reform on organisations on the frontline and the people they serve. It highlights the existing research into the impact of welfare reform on key groups, showcases some examples of best practice and lists recommendations to government.

Their research was informed by a series in-depth interviews and focus groups with 40 organisations in six different communities across Scotland gathering information about their experiences of the recent benefit changes.

Eat Better, Feel Better
The Scottish Government’s Eat Better, Feel Better campaign is due to launch in January 2015, to inspire and support parents and families to make healthy changes to how they shop, cook and eat, with the aim of improving their health.

With welfare reform continuing to dominate the headlines, CHEX brings you some of the latest news from around Scotland relating to welfare and community-led health: News from other networks

Insecure, low-paid jobs are leaving record numbers of working families in poverty, with two-thirds of people who found work in the past year taking jobs for less than the living wage, according to the latest annual report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. More here.

News from other networks

CHEX has found the following e-bulletins interesting over the last fortnight:

The Scottish Communities Alliance has some useful links to reports, news and other activities. You can read the latest issue here.

Campaigns

United Nations Day of Persons with Disabilities
Yesterday, 3rd of December was the United Nations Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year's theme was Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology, with the day itself aiming to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Drink driving campaign
The Scottish Government has a campaign to highlight to new changes to drink driving laws in Scotland.

The Don't Risk It campaign highlights the changeover on December 5th, which being launched as part of Road Safety Week. The change lowers the blood alcohol limit from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

Along with this, the move also aims to highlight the impact of alcohol on wider society, with one report noting that the estimated cost to the NHS in the UK of alcohol attributable motor vehicle accidents to be at £238m in 2006-07.

Positive Action in Housing
An urgent appeal for financial donations to give direct humanitarian relief and protection for destitute people seeking asylum in Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland. Over the next few weeks, Positive Action in Housing will be working to ensure that people who are destitute, or at risk of destitution, have access to basic survival essentials over the Winter holiday period.

Destitute asylum seekers are forbidden to seek work or access public funds or emergency homeless accommodation. Many have fallen into long term destitution and are part of Europe’s invisible citizens.

Consultations and surveys

Consultation on Proposals to Introduce a Statutory Duty of Candour for Health and Social Care Services
This consultation document invites views on the Scottish Government's proposals to introduce legislation that will require organisations providing health and social care to tell people if there has been an event involving them where physical or psychological harm has occurred as a result of care or treatment.

Glasgow launches major public survey on attitudes towards violence against women
The Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership (GVAWP) has unveiled an ambitious public survey in a bid to eradicate violence against women in Glasgow.

Survey: Reviewing the Community Development National Occupational Standards
SCDC (CHEX's parent organisation) has been working with the Federation for Community Development Learning (FCDL) which is leading partners from across the UK in the Review of the Community Development National Occupational Standards (CDNOS).

FCDL has worked to produce draft revised CDNOS following Phase 1 of the consultation, which involved comment from practitioners and a series of consultation events, including one in Scotland (held at Glasgow University), along with a writers group, which included two colleagues from Scotland together with others from across the UK. These draft revised Standards, which can be accessed here, are open for consultation until Friday 12 December.

Take the survey here. You can download survey submission guidance here. If you'd like an individual link which enables you to save your survey progress across sessions, please email nya@nya.org.uk.

Publications

Getting the messages too - The benefit of obtaining nutrition qualifications for practitioners and their organisations
Since 2007, CFHS has supported 51 community food practitioners to obtain a RSPH Diploma in Nutrition, Certificate in Nutrition or Level 3 Award in Nutrition for Healthier Food and Special Diets

This publication reports on a survey carried out in 2014 to identify if and how this investment has benefited the community food practitioners, the organisations they work for and the people they work with.

Health Expectancies at Birth and at Age 65 in the United Kingdom, 2009–11
With life expectancy increasing in the UK, health expectancies are a way to monitor whether the ‘extra’ years gained are spent in ‘Good’ health or free from a limiting illness or disability. This bulletin updates national estimates of disability-free and healthy life expectancy estimates for 2009– 11, both at birth and age 65 for the UK and constituent countries.

This bulletin also looks at changes, between 2000–02 and 2009–11, in disability-free and healthy life expectancy at birth in the four constituent UK countries, as well as looking at changes in health expectancies at age 65 in the UK.

Third Sector Interfaces report
Voluntary Action Scotland has launched the second annual report looking at the impact of Scotland's 32 third sector interfaces. Entitled 'Supporting a Stronger Third Sector' it draws on the experiences of third sector interfaces and their service users to paint a clear picture of the role TSIs play in communities across Scotland.

Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2014
This annual report, written by the New Policy Institute (NPI), examines how the UK’s economic recovery is affecting people in poverty, and reveals dramatic changes in who is most at risk compared to ten years ago. The report focuses on money, housing, work, benefits and services, among other indicators.

Funding

Let's Get On Challenge Fund
This is a fund of £200,000 (per annum) aimed at groups and organisations that work closely with local communities, e.g. social clubs, sports clubs and arts /cultural organisations. It will enable them to digitise content, build digital networks and improve the digital skills of their members in order that they might continue to thrive in the digital world.

The Sutton Trust – Parental Engagement Fund
This new £1 million UK-wide fund aims to support the growth, increased effectiveness and measurement of impact of parental engagement projects aimed at improving children’s cognitive development. Grants (typically between £50,000 and £200,000 over up to three years) will be awarded to projects benefiting children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the early years and early primary phases (ages 2-6), particularly existing projects keen to increase capacity (reaching more parents and their children) and/or increase the impact of their project (bigger effects on the children’s cognitive outcomes as measured by levels of numeracy and literacy). D

National Strategy for Self-directed Support in Scotland: Building the capacity of Support and Information Organisations -“Support in the Right Direction” Fund
This fund is for projects which will help to develop and improve SDS support and information services over the next three years.

Health and Social Care Alliance: ‘Self-Management Impact Fund’
The fund is available to third sector organisations and partnerships looking to develop new project ideas that help people, who live with long term conditions, to access the support they need to successfully manage their own life.

Bank of Scotland Foundation – Large Grants Programme
This new programme will award grants from £50,000 to £100,000 over one or two years to charities registered in Scotland with OSCR. The Foundation particularly wishes to help with two key themes:

Developing and improving communities

Financial inclusion / financial literacy

Applications will be assessed on a number of criteria, including evidence of demonstrable need, sustainability, innovation and opportunities for Lloyds Banking Group Employee Volunteering.

Apply online or by hard copy application form (request one from the Bank of Scotland Foundation team on 0131 655 2599). All applicants will be contacted two weeks after the closing date. If your initial application is invited to the next stage you will then have four weeks to complete a full application form. Successful applications will be announced during June 2015.

Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) - Events
This year, 10 December will also be the first anniversary of SNAP. Events and activities are taking place all around Scotland, from 1 to 11 December, to raise awareness of human rights in everyday life, discuss progress made through SNAP and identify opportunities for more action to improve human rights in Scotland in 2015 and beyond.

Innovation Lab - 24 Jan (Edinburgh)
If you know of any young people that would be interested in attending the Innovation Lab, they must register by Wednesday 14th January 2015. Please note that one form needs to be completed for person attending.

Saturday 24th January 2015 at the Grassmarket Project, Edinburgh from 11am – 3.45pm (refreshments from 10.30am).

If someone would like to attend with the young people they work with then we would be delighted if they would like to register too. Alternatively we can ensure that any young people attending on their own are supported by to do so. We want to make sure that anyone who would like to attend is supported to do so.

The Innovation Lab is an exciting opportunity for young people aged 12-18 with long term conditions to come together to discuss and creatively develop ideas to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people with long term conditions. We will be running a second Innovation Lab on Saturday 28th February that will develop some of the ideas generated on 25th January in more detail. If you are interested in attending this event too, please let them know.

Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteer session - 6 Dec (Glasgow)
Dumbarton Road Corridor Environmental Trust are working in partnership with Community Safety Glasgow to support their Clean Glasgow Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteer (NIV) scheme. They will be supporting existing Clean Glasgow NIVs to undertake even more great work in their communities and they will also be encouraging local people to register as Clean Glasgow NIVs.

They will be hosting a couple of information sessions where you can pop along for a cup of tea and a mince pie and find out more about the programme, meet other NIVs and find out how you can sign up to the programme.

Equally local - the future of the third sector in Angus - 8 Dec (Forfar)
Given the many challenges facing the third sector and indeed the opportunities for our sector to demonstrate its impact, it is important we have a dialogue with third sector board members to help determine how we seek to do business together and to access support to sustain the valuable work we do. The third sector makes an enormous contribution to people and communities in Angus however it is suggested that we need to do more to raise the profile accordingly.

Monday 8th December 2014, 6pm – 8.30pm,

Voluntary Action Angus, 1- 3 St James Road, Forfar, DD8 2AQ

Given the significant pressures on public spending and perceived changes toward commissioning and contract cultures it is important that the third sector voice is heard in the deliberations of resource allocation and local democracy in Angus.

This initial meeting will offer board member the opportunity to find out about support which is available from Voluntary Action Angus and also provide a dialogue on the issues and opportunities for our sector. It is an open forum and board members of any voluntary organisation or social enterprise organisation are most welcome to attend.

Conferences and seminars

Children Carers & Second-hand Smoke
ASH Scotland has secured funding to offer a free one day training workshop in order to equip those who work with children and families to reduce children’s exposure to second hand smoke within the home. Various delivery dates & venues will be arranged over the coming year. The training is designed to equip workers with knowledge skills and confidence to better support parents/carers to protect children from SHS and provide strategies to assist them.

This workshop supports the Scottish Governments 'Take it right outside' campaign and the GIRFEC principles of helping to keep children safe, healthy, respected and nurtured. The training also fits with protecting children's rights, improving their life chances and other key outcomes of the Scottish Government Early Years & Child Poverty Strategies.

The Children Carers & Second Hand Smoke Training is designed for staﬀ, paid or unpaid, whose role involves supporting families with children under five. This will encompass family support workers, befrienders, home/school link workers and early years’ staﬀ from both voluntary and local authority based organisations.

All of our training days will run from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Refreshments will be available on arrival and at breaks, but lunch will not be provided, although there are facilities available to purchase your lunch.

If you would like further information or would like to book you place, then please contact Marion McGovern, Admin Coordinator – 0131 220 9461 or email: marion.mcgovern@ashscotland.org.uk.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Discrimination Law in 2015
Discrimination continues to be the most dynamic part of our employment law. Each month brings new developments of practical importance for policies and procedures. No one who advises on employment law or equal opportunities can afford not to keep abreast of these vital changes.

These changes, and their practical implications, will be among the areas explored in detail at this major conference.

2014 was another year of major change for the world of discrimination law:

The introduction of Tribunal fees for bringing a discrimination claim and taking it to a hearing has had a massive impact on the volume of claims. By the time of this conference, we should know the outcome of the judicial review challenging Tribunal fees.

Mandatory early conciliation by ACAS of discrimination claims came into force.

Employment Tribunals were given the power to impose pay audits on employers found to have discriminated because of gender in pay matters.

Legislation was introduced stripping Employment Tribunals of their power to make wider action recommendations.

Technology Enabled Care Seminar - 11 Dec (Edinburgh)
The seminar will look at strategic outcomes and the links between Scottish Government strategic outcomes and local delivery. There will also be an opportunity to consider innovation and for attendee’s to input into future development to support service delivery.

Places at the seminar are limited, so please RSVP no later than Thursday 27November to Rachel Howe. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

SMHRN Annual Scientific Meeting 2014: De-stigmatising Mental Illness: the Role of Science & Experience - 11 Dec (Edinburgh)
The Scottish Mental Health Research Network Annual Scientific Meeting will take place on 11th December at the John McIntyre Conference Centre, Pollock Halls, Edinburgh.

Date: 11th December 2014

Venue: John McIntyre Conference Centre, Pollock Halls, Edinburgh

There will be a new format this year which includes workshops, speakers, poster presentations and input from the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival. This event is open to anyone interested and involved in mental health research in Scotland. The event is free and lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Priorities for integrating health and social care in Scotland - 30 Apr 2015 (Edinburgh)
Delegates at this conference will discuss what more needs to be done to meet the Scottish Government's 2020 vision of integrated health and social care - and the progress of integrating care services, including the amalgamation of health and social care budgets.

The seminar will also provide a timely opportunity to assess the on-going implementation of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014 as integration goes live in local areas in April 2015.

Further sessions will consider the role of the third and independent sectors in the delivery of care, and the impact of the reforms on the health and care workforce.

Training

Digital Communications - Technology for the terrified
Renfrewshire Libraries, Sensory Impairment Services, Action on Hearing Loss and Get on Digital Services Team are running workshops around digital technology held at the Renfrewshire Carers Centre on Friday, 5th December
11-1.

Small grants masterclass - BIG Lottery
This session is suitable for participants new to fundraising or for those looking for a refresher session on their three current small grants.

Free webinar on Dec 10, 2014 at 11:00 AM GMT.

Their small grants - Communities and Families Fund, Awards for All and Investing in Ideas - all provide funding from a few hundred pounds up to £10,000. They'll cover main objectives and outcomes, priorities and eligibility, as well as some hints and tips.

Trellis Network Focus for insights into therapeutic gardening projects in the network - Clydesdale Community Initiatives, Lanarkshire: Gardening for Health from your GP
Gardening, as you know, is good for mental health and wellbeing. Spending time actively engaged in the outdoors can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and increase feelings of wellbeing. Clydesdale Community Initiatives, based in Lanarkshire, set up the Gardening for Health group in 2012 and it has been going from strength to strength, delivering excellent results for all.

The twelve week course takes place every Wednesday between 10am and 3pm, and you can join at any time. The course is free to attend - all you need is a referral from your GP. CCI are based at 39 North Vennel, Lanark, ML11 7PT.

Tobacco with Cannabis
This well-regarded one-day course takes a brief look into the world of cannabis use in conjunction with tobacco smoking and considers different approaches to help clients make informed choices about changing health behaviours.

What you will learn:

Links between cannabis and tobacco use

Main types of cannabis and health effects

Methods of use

Discussing cannabis with clients

Legal framework as applied to cannabis

When & Where:

The next delivery of this course is:

Thursday 29th January 2015, 9.30am to 4.30pm

The Teacher Building, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow

The cost for the course is £95 per person

Lunch is not provided

If you would like further information for either of these courses, or would like to book you place, then please contact Marion McGovern, Admin Coordinator – 0131 220 9461 or email: marion.mcgovern@ashscotland.org.uk.

Welfare Reform – Where are we now?
This is a one day fun, interactive and informative course, which provides delegates with an introduction to the current situation on the Welfare Reform, recent changes and what the future is set to be.

Tuesday 27th January 2015, 10.00am – 3.00pm

SCLD offices, Merchant Exchange, Glasgow.

In the afternoon, delegates will be shown how to do a benefits calculation, using Turn2Us online calculator. The calculator is simple and easy to use, and participants will be well informed to support others to do so.
The course covers:

Employment Support Allowance

Universal Credit

Passported Benefits

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Assessment Process & Timescales

Cost: £100 per person. To book email john.s@scld.co.uk or call John Somerville at SCLD on 0141 559 5720 alternatively you can book online here.

Healthy Working Lives Free Lone Working Training – For Managers
This half-day training session (3hrs) is tailored for managers and is designed to raise awareness and confidence levels with regards to managing risks associated with lone working.

Raised awareness of the importance of Lone Working at work

Exploration of specific concerns that the group may face achieving a balanced approach to risk

Development of practical strategies and the confidence to avoid situations that may threaten personal safety at work

Production of Action Plans that individuals can adopt to help keep themselves safe

Action points for the organisation to consider to help manage Personal Safety at work

They are offering two half-day sessions on the 25th February 2015.

Morning session: 9am-12 noon

Afternoon session: 1pm – 4pm

Venue : David Lloyd Health Centre, Anniesland

This course is only open to businesses/organisation based in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde area. Spaces are restricted to one place per organisation and will be offered on a first come first served basis, so be quick to avoid disappointment.

Vacancies

Alzheimer Scotland - Community Activities Organiser (Aberdeen)
You will play a key role in the development and running of group activities for people with dementia and their families and help maintain the person’s social activities, relationships and community connections. Successful applicant will have a positive approach to dementia. You will also have good communication skills and a caring attitude.

Salary: £17,389 - £18,603 pro-rata, 21 hours per week

Closing date: 05/12/2014

A willingness to learn and participate in training (including SVQ’s) is essential. Relevant qualifications and/or experience of working with people with dementia would be an advantage.

The Thistle Foundation - Health and Wellbeing Manager (Renfrew)
This new post presents an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to lead the work of our Supported Living teams and develop a broader range of health and wellbeing work from our base in Renfrew. Leading and managing teams of staff you will ensure the delivery of effective support for people, their families and communities in and around the Renfrew and Inverclyde area.

Salary: circa £37,000

Closing date: 05/12/2014

With a professional background in health and social care the successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of person centred, personal outcomes and assets based approaches to working with people.

Bethany Christian Trust Community Development Worker (Dundee / Perth)
BCT are looking for an exciting and dynamic candidate to lead, facilitate and develop community learning projects which engage with and encourage homeless and vulnerable adults to make positive changes in their lives.

Salary: From £20,397 pro-rata

Closing date: 10/12/2014

This post seeks to give service users the life skills and confidence to enter vocational training and/or employment. Projects will be developed through local communities to encourage greater resilience and sustainability. The post holder will work in conjunction with the new Bethany Social Enterprise in Perth to facilitate groups in the café and help people to get closer to employment. This post will be with Bethany Christian Trust and will cover Dundee and Perth.

WEA - Workplace Literacies Tutor Organiser (Aberdeen)
The WEA has an opportunity to take up a key post based in Aberdeen. Applicants should be creative adult educators, who can develop and deliver high quality literacies and ESOL learning in Community and Workplace based settings.

The post-holder will have the ability to develop and maintain effective links with employers, contribute to and prepare funding applications and manage the work of Course Tutors to ensure that WEA meets the needs of learners and funders.

First Step Community Project - Project Manager
They are looking for a manager who will be primarily responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan and securing funding to enable our services to continue and grow.

Salary: £30,039 - £31,689
Closing date: 12/12/2014

Working with an experienced and dedicated team, the successful candidate will enjoy managing a service which is an integral part of both the community it serves and of the network of local resources for families with young children.

Life Changes Trust - Dementia Programme Advisors
The Life Changes Trust is looking for eight new Dementia Programme Advisors. They would like four people with dementia and four people who are, or have been, carers of people with dementia.

Applications must be received no later than Friday 12 December 2014. More information here.

Websites

Funding Scotland
SCVO has launched a new website to help organisations find funding. Funding Scotland lists funders with a track record of supporting projects in Scotland. It includes grants, loans, prizes and other support.